Chapter 129: “reporter”
Lin Zhao noticed Yun Jin’s movements and lightly raised an eyebrow.
Song Yunjin seemed to have captured some extraordinary scene, his eyes sparkling as he raised the camera and clicked again.
“……”
Lin Zhao skated over and asked curiously, “Yun Jin, what do you want to do in the future?”
Song Yunjin was much more planned than his brother. “I want to be a reporter!” he said without thinking.
“Reporter?” Lin Zhao was astonished. “Why do you want to be a reporter?”
“Just want to.” Song Yunjin couldn’t explain the reason.
He had wanted to be a reporter for a long time.
“Okay.” Lin Zhao didn’t press and smiled. “When you achieve your dream, I’ll give you a high-end camera.”
Song Yunjin’s eyes lit up unbelievably. “Sister, you mean it? I’m taking you seriously!”
“Of course it’s true.” Lin Zhao said nonchalantly.
She had plenty of good things in her storage ring; selling any could fetch a large sum of money, not to mention the lucky draw wheel with points for draws. The chances of drawing a camera in recent years were high.
“Sister, you really are my biological sister. I’ll work hard!” Song Yunjin was like he had been injected with chicken blood, his face flushed with excitement.
Lin Zhao smiled faintly and skated far away.
Her figure was slender and tall, her skating posture relaxed and fluid, smooth as flowing water, and she was beautiful and eye-catching.
Song Yunjin chased after her, clicking away nonstop.
Gu Chenghuai saw his wife skating for the first time, his gaze fixed on Lin Zhao.
The bright and generous Zhaozhao was beautiful right to his heart.
He approached Lin Zhao.
The talented man and beautiful woman couple appeared in the lens.
Song Yunjin got excited and shot from different angles.
Noticing his movements, Lin Zhao’s eyes shifted slightly. She leaned against Gu Chenghuai; the man lowered his head, gazing at her tenderly, while she lifted the corners of her mouth toward the camera lens.
This moment was frozen.
Lin Zhao grabbed Gu Chenghuai’s wrist and pulled him toward the twins.
The man was tall and handsome, the girl graceful and charming; their backs matched perfectly. Song Yunjin clicked another shot.
When the whole family of four appeared in the lens, he took two consecutive family photos.
Perfect!
Song Yunjin held the camera and grinned foolishly.
An hour passed quickly.
Yu Baoheng Bao were still not satisfied; if it were other little friends, they would have been lying on the ground refusing to leave, but though the two were reluctant, they didn’t fuss and obediently skated toward Lin Zhao.
“Mom, can we come again? I like skating!” Heng Bao boldly made the request.
“Of course, I’ll bring you again when there’s a chance.” Lin Zhao rubbed the cubs’ soft cheeks and said with a smile.
If it wasn’t closed, they could come again; she quite enjoyed playing too.
“Mom is the best!” Heng Bao nuzzled in Lin Zhao’s bosom, his mouth grinning up to the sky with joy.
After returning the roller skates, Lin Zhao and the others left the stadium.
“Mom, I’m hot. Can I have another ice cream?” Yu Bao saw the ice cream seller, licked his lips, and looked up at Lin Zhao.
“Little friends eat too much ice and their bellies will hurt. I’ll buy you soda, okay?”
Yu Bao smiled and agreed. “Okay.”
He was a careful cub and felt they had spent a bit over budget today, so he proactively said, “Mom, buy one bottle. My brother and I will share it.”
Heng Bao had no objection. “Okay.”
“Fine.” Lin Zhao agreed without thinking; it wasn’t good for little friends to drink too much soda, and the two little brothers sharing was reasonable.
Gu Chenghuai strode over with his long legs to buy soda.
The bottles needed returning, but due to Gu Commander’s shiny officer ID, the shopkeeper generously said they could return them before closing time when he got off work.
The soda bottles from the movie day were returned by Lin Zhao the next morning.
On the road, Lin Zhao and the others held sodas, sipping occasionally, very eye-catching.
Some little friends saw them, full of envy.
The twins smiled brightly.
They glanced at Lin Zhao and Gu Chenghuai, smiled, glanced again, smiled again, each smile sweeter than the last.
Lin Zhao noticed they kept smiling and asked curiously, “What are you smiling about?”
Yu Bao’s little head lightly leaned on mom’s arm, looking up at her. “Mom is really good.”
“Mom is really good to us!” Heng Bao said too.
“That’s good then.” Lin Zhao thought the cubs were so easy to satisfy.
“Very good, very good.” Yu Bao said, his eyes bright and spirited, full of dependence on mom.
Lin Zhao rubbed the twins’ heads and looked at Gu Chenghuai, smiling at him.
The cubs’ dad deserved great credit.
He supported the whole family, so she didn’t have to worry about anything.
Didn’t other moms in the village want to be good to their own children? They were willing but unable.
The men couldn’t earn money, so they had to earn work points themselves, exhausted with little money left, powerless to be good to their children.
“Your dad is great too; what you eat and use is all earned by his hard work.”
The twins crowded to dad’s side and grabbed Gu Chenghuai’s hand.
“Dad is great too. My Heng Bao’s dad and mom are the best of the best!” Heng Bao said proudly.
Yu Bao nodded in agreement.
Right!
Gu Chenghuai looked down at the two cubs, his face expressionless, but a smile flashed in his eyes.
At the photo studio, they picked up the previously developed photos. Lin Zhao gave the new film and money to the old master at the photo studio.
“New film, please develop it too, thanks.”
The old master: “……”
The old master glanced complicatedly at the film on the table, waved his hand, not wanting to speak.
Young people didn’t know how hard earning money was!
“Yu Bao, Heng Bao, time to go.” Lin Zhao saw her sons looking around and reminded them to leave.
“Okay!” A clear little milky voice rang out.
The old master then noticed the two little friends, his gaze pausing on the twins’ faces.
Catching his surprised look, Heng Bao said without reservation, “My brother and I are twins. Grandpa, do you know what twins are? It’s when my brother and I lived in the same little house in mom’s belly and came out together.”
The old master was stunned.
Lin Zhao: “……”
The Song brothers held back laughter.
“Heng Bao, what kind of nonsense is that?” Song Yuncheng was full of smiles. “Who told you that?”
“My grandma, so what?” Heng Bao furrowed his brows, looking fiercely cute.
Why laugh! Little friends needed face too.
“No what, no what.” Song Yuncheng indicated he didn’t dare provoke.
Heng Bao withdrew his gaze and continued chatting with the photo studio old master. “Grandpa, what are you doing?”
His eyes fixed on the old master’s actions, extremely curious.
“Heng Bao, are you coming back or not?” Lin Zhao saw the cub eyeing people’s meal tools and said helplessly, “If you dawdle more, we’ll leave.”
Some masters didn’t like outsiders chattering and asking too much.
Heng Bao was curious about the old master’s work but cared more about being with family, so he hurriedly said, “I’m coming, I’m coming.”
Before leaving, he said to the old master, “Grandpa, I’m Gu Zhiheng, little name Heng Bao. Come find you to play when there’s a chance later.”
Lin Zhao: “……”
Song Yunjin covered his mouth laughing and bumped his brother’s shoulder. “Bro, don’t you think Heng Bao looks like sister? Our sister was like that when little, could chat with anyone.”
Song Yuncheng thought so too and muttered, “I said he looked familiar; now that you mention it, I get it.”
The photo studio old master didn’t mind Heng Bao talking a lot; he found the child fun, seeming open and frank, so his stern face relaxed. “Okay.”
Heng Bao was satisfied and grinned. “Grandpa, I’ll head back first. We’ll chat another day.”
After saying that, he waved at the old master and then left the photo studio.
The twins liked being led by Lin Zhao; the two little friends walked one on each side holding mom’s hand.
They walked a good stretch.
Lin Zhao asked, “Heng Bao, do you want to learn photography? Why did you ask so many questions earlier?”
As soon as she spoke, Gu Chenghuai and the others’ gazes fell on little Gu Zhiheng.
Heng Bao grinned broadly. “Didn’t think of learning it. I was just curious what that grandpa was doing. If grandpa thinks I’m smart and clever and is willing to teach me some skills, I wouldn’t mind learning.”
“I’m so smart; I can learn anything.” He was very confident, chin held high.
Lin Zhao’s mouth twitched.
My cub sure knows how to think.
Sure enough, Yu Bao said, “Little brother is smart; he can learn anything.”
Heng Bao leaned forward, looking at his brother over Lin Zhao. “Big brother is better than me!”
“Why learn that?” Lin Zhao asked him.
Heng Bao straightened up. “My grandpa said skills don’t weigh you down. Learn a craft well, and you’ll never worry later.”
That wasn’t wrong.
Lin Zhao praised, “Then work hard.”
Little children had changing ideas; not strange.
Heng Bao was greatly encouraged. “Okay! I’ll learn well!”
“You love learning everything; why not learn photography from your mom?” Song Yunjin raised the camera in his hand.
“I’m still little. Cameras are so expensive; what if I break it? Then home won’t have a camera. I’ll learn at ten.” Heng Bao spoke logically, full of reason.
He looked at Uncle Yun Jin like he was looking at a fool.
Song Yunjin didn’t notice and said, “……Okay then.”
Chatting and laughing, the group returned to the textile factory staff dormitory.
Qian Bao and Yao Bao sat on the downstairs steps, one holding a small ball, the other a cloth tiger, propping their chubby chins, watching the entrance. Uncle Song held a black umbrella shading them from the sun.
Seeing Lin Zhao, Yao Bao suddenly pouted, big teardrops falling down her cheeks.
“Mom.” This sound was so soft and aggrieved.
The little dumpling slid down the steps and ran toward Lin Zhao.
Gu Chenghuai stepped forward quickly to hug his daughter, but Yao Bao pushed him away with her little arms, stretching them toward mom, her little face full of grievance, making little beast-like crying sounds from her mouth.
Compared to dad, she stuck to mom more.
Lin Zhao squatted down, picked up Yao Bao, and cooed softly, “When did you wake up? Why are you crying?”
Yao Bao’s head rested in Lin Zhao’s neck, arms tightly around her neck with great strength, but she didn’t speak; her round little back of the head was even sulking.
Lin Zhao stroked her daughter’s head and sighed lightly with a smile in her tone, “You’re mad at mom, not even looking at me.”
Hearing this, Yao Bao’s jade-like little ears twitched; she sneakily glanced at mom, then buried her face back.
“Baby really won’t talk to mom?” Lin Zhao patted her daughter’s back, then went forward to hug Qian Bao too. Quiet children were easily overlooked; she tried to be fair and not ignore Qian Bao’s feelings just because he didn’t fuss.
“Qian Bao, your dad and I saw you and little sister sleeping soundly, so we went out for a stroll and picked up photos. Are you mad too?”
Qian Bao shook his head and said in his milky voice, “Not mad.”
He pulled his little sister’s hand, serious little face. “Yao Bao, you can’t ignore mom.”
Just like Heng Bao listened to Yu Bao, Yao Bao listened to little brother; she lifted her head, eyes bright like after fresh rain. “Mom bad, no call Bao!”
Her voice was soft and crisp, very indignant.
Lin Zhao was charmed by her daughter’s cuteness and said, “I did call. Yao Bao was asleep and didn’t hear.”
Yao Bao moved her mouth, couldn’t think of a retort; her chubby cute little face was full of blankness.
Suddenly she hummed twice, turned her head away, face against mom’s shoulder, and laughed.
“It’s hot down here; go upstairs first.” Uncle Song sighed in relief seeing Zhaozhao back.
Gu Chenghuai reached out to Qian Bao, who opened his arms and was carried upstairs by dad.
At home, the dragon-phoenix twins played with their brothers.
Uncle Song quietly pointed at Qian Bao and Yao Bao and said, “Zhaozhao, your two cubs have quite the tempers.”
“Do they?” Lin Zhao didn’t think so. “They’re very obedient at home.”
Uncle Song shook his head.
“After they woke up, your aunt said you and Chenghuai took Yu Baoheng Bao out; they immediately wanted to get out of bed, put on shoes, and head out. We couldn’t hold them back; they insisted on sitting on the first-floor steps waiting for you. I told them to wait in the shade and they wouldn’t; so stubborn, not like you at all.”
Zhaozhao wouldn’t torment herself even if sulking.
“I didn’t know that. At home they’re both very low-maintenance; I don’t have to manage much.” Lin Zhao just learned the dragon-phoenix twins were stubborn; so cute.
Aunt Song liked the two cubs and spoke up for them. “Kids that young are like this in new places; not crying or fussing counts as obedient.”
She always liked looking at her own children no matter what.
After saying that, she went to the kitchen to cook.
Lin Zhao followed to help.
“Zhaozhao, go inside and keep Qian Bao and Yao Bao company. I’ll do it; everything’s prepared, it’ll be quick.” Aunt Song didn’t want Lin Zhao to dirty her new clothes and wouldn’t let her help.
“It’s fine. It’s stuffy inside; I want to chat with aunt.” Lin Zhao held aunt’s arm and smiled sweetly.
Aunt Song also wanted to ask Zhaozhao something. “Then put on an apron; you’re dressed so pretty, careful not to get oil on it.”
Lin Zhao wore the outfit Gu Chenghuai bought, which didn’t look cheap, so that’s why Aunt Song said that.
“Okay.”
There weren’t many in the kitchen yet; Lin Zhao and aunt going in wasn’t crowded.
“Zhaozhao, tell me about your Sister Xiangxiang. I heard from Yun Cheng she has a partner; what’s the situation with him?” Aunt Song asked directly.
“My sister does have a partner; he’s my colleague’s younger brother, twenty-eight this year, a retired soldier working in the transportation team, formal worker, no parents, besides an older sister, he has a younger sister not yet married, currently matchmaking…” Lin Zhao told aunt the basic situation.
Aunt Song listened carefully.
She commented, “That’s good conditions. If that young man is decent, Xiangxiang’s future won’t be bad.”
As for leg issues? What of it; without some flaw, it wouldn’t be Xiangxiang’s turn. Not looking down on her own child, but really, the match wasn’t quite even.
Lin Zhao smiled. “The person is decent. I’ve met him once and heard some things about him; clear-headed, quite values Sister Xiangxiang. If it really happens, it should be fine.”
Aunt Song stir-fried nimbly and said confidently, “You have good taste; if you say it’s fine, it is!”
“Your big aunt must be thrilled?”
Lin Zhao washed and organized the things on the counter. “Thrilled, extremely thrilled.”
Recalling Sister Xiangxiang’s scumbag ex-fiancé, she asked, “Aunt, I heard my uncle is going to teach Sister Xiangxiang’s scumbag ex-fiancé a lesson. Did he?”
